56 SAN ANTONIO 
that love for refined enjoyments in which it is so often 
deficient. 
Fording the Guadalupe River, which is here about 
eighty feet wide and beautifully transparent, we came 
to a more open country, though with patches more 
closely wooded than any yet observed. The prospect 
on every side was broad ; the land appeared rich, and 
presented the traces of long cultivation. Passed 
several fenced inclosures, the first we had seen since 
leaving San Antonio. 
A species of grape (probably Vitis wstivalis) was 
abundant in the bottoms of the rivers; and at the 
crossing of the Guadalupe we found the vines in great 
profusion, climbing into the tops of lofty trees, and 
filled with fruit, of which some of our young men 
gathered great quantities, and which proved very . 
acceptable.- 
Stopped at the house of Dr. Ernst Kapp, Professor, 
as indicated by his card. There was here the appear- 
ance of comfort and taste, though the house was of logs. 
I was introduced to his wife and daughter, who both 
appeared to be intelligent, and several bright-looking 
children. Waited here a couple of hours for a supply 
of corn, and then drove to a watering place seven 
miles further, where*we encamped for the night. 
October 14th. Soon after starting this morning, we 
ascended an elevated hill, the highest yet met with in 
the country. The road had followed up a rich and 
narrow valley, studded at intervals with oaks, and 
covered with luxuriant grass, when at length it wound 
around the base of the hill, and by a zig-zag course led 
to a point near its summit. Here I left the road and 
